“Garvey hasn't reached out to MAGA,” former President Trump told reporters on Friday after being asked why Republican Senate candidate Steve Garvey of California wasn't endorsing Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff's challenger.
“I don't know much about Steve Garvey. I think he made a big mistake by not reaching out to MAGA,” Trump said outside his Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes after speaking out against “comrade Kamala Harris and the communist left” at a news conference.
“If you don't have MAGA, you don't have a chance,” he said of former major league star Garvey.
Trump was fundraising in California on Thursday and Friday.
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Former President Trump said Friday that California Republican Senate candidate Steve Garvey made a “big mistake” by not reaching out to him for an endorsement. (Reuters/Getty)
“Well, I haven't spoken to him,” Trump added of Garvey. “I hear he wants the MAGA endorsement, but he's got to call me. If he gets the MAGA endorsement, he'll win. He'll win if we have a fair election, but the election we're having right now is not fair.”
Garvey previously told Fox 11 that he voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020.
He told Fox News Digital in a statement: “Since day one, I have run a different type of campaign and have never accepted or sought political endorsements. All I want is the endorsement of law enforcement and first responders. This week, we launched a historic campaign to dedicate all of our resources to speaking to California's Latino community from now until the election.”
“My focus will be on the issues that really matter to Californians – housing affordability, public safety, border security, solving homelessness and restoring leadership for California. I'm running a 'Steve Garvey' campaign for all Californians, not along partisan lines or special interests. I'm committed to tackling the challenges families and communities face every day and ensuring California has its rightful voice in Washington.”
Republican Steve Garvey (right) is running against Democrat Adam Schiff (left) in the California U.S. Senate race. (Getty Images)
Trump also slammed Schiff, calling him “one of the most despicable politicians in history, evil Adam Schiff. One of the most disgusting human beings to ever be a senator. That's why we need me for president, because this man is a despicable man.”
He said he “cannot believe” Schiff could represent the region.
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The former president has long disliked the Los Angeles-area congressman, who served as the lead impeachment manager in Trump's first Senate impeachment trial and has been a vocal critic throughout his presidency.
Former President Trump spoke at a press conference at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes, California on Friday. (AP Photo/Jay C. Hong)
“I don't think he likes me,” Schiff wrote in response to Trump's comments about him on The X Show.
“Steve Garvey's a good guy. I don't know him at all,” Trump told reporters, “but if he doesn't reach out to MAGA, he never has a chance.”
Schiff has a strong chance of winning in a heavily Democratic state that hasn't had a Republican senator since Sen. John Seymour lost in the 1992 election.
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The latest Real Clear Politics polling average has Schiff leading Garvey 57.3% to 33%.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Trump campaign and Schiff's campaign for comment.
